Fruit grading machine



. April 18, 1961 w. E. BRAY EIAL 2,980,252

FRUIT GRADING MACHINE Filed March 24, 1958 INVENTORS WALTER E. BRAY ROBERT E. STILVIELL BY A1414 ATTORNEY United States Patent r 2,980,252 FRUIT GRADING MACHINE I l Filed Mar. 24,1958, Set. No. 723,541 6Claims. 01. 209-421 1 The present invention appertainsto fruit grading machines of the type in which fruit is graded by weight and more particularly relates to improvements in fruit supporting cups and means for supporting the same. a

The fruit supporting or fruit carrier cup of the present invention is an improvement of the type of carrier cup used with the fruit grading machine disclosed in United States Letters Patent to Paul Van Wyk, No. 2,252,909, dated August 19, 1941.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved carrier cup of machines.

Another object is to provide improved means for sup porting a carriercup inthefruit grading machine 1 Another object is to provide a carrier cup having an improved cup supporting and'scale actuating pin arranged to increase the useful life of the supported cup and to more accurately guide the cup and supported article .into either an underweight or an overweight position.

Another object is to provide an improved fruit grading machinei g I These and other objects and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following description and the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveof a portion of the grading machine with certain parts broken away and showing three i The grading machine with which the improved plastic carriercup 6 of the present invention is associated complastic material for'fruit grading of the improved carrier cups of the present invention prises a pair of parallel spaced tracks 8 and 101 along which a pair of roller chains12and 14,respectively, are

guided during'movement in the. direction ofthe arrow (Figs. 1 and 2). Each of a'plurality of the carrier-cups 6 is pivotally connected atonegend'to the chains: 12' and "ice into the pocket 17 and also add to the rigidity of the cup 6. A raised article deflecting surface 22 of the cup mounting portion 19 extends laterally across the forward portion of the cup 6 and also serves to guide articles into the conical pocket 17. A hole 23 is formed at the apex of the conical pocket 17 through which water, dirt and debris which may enter the cup 6 with the article can be discharged. A web 24 extending from each corner 21 along the lower surface of the cup 6 to a point adjacent the hole 23, and'a ring 25 concentric with the hole 23 and connected to the webs 24 and to the lower surfaceof the pocket 17 are provided to add rigidity to the carrier cup 6. Downwardly directed walls 26 integral with the conne'ctingsurfaces 18 and with the webs 24 define a rectan:v

gular skirt 27. 1

The cup mounting portion 19 comprises a forward wall 28 and two side walls 29. A hole 30 in each side wall 29 rotatably receives the rod 15 and communicates with a U-shaped flange 31 (Figs. 1 and 3), on the outer surface of theassociated wall 29, which provides a wide hearing surface around the lower portion of the hole 31). Similarly, a boss 32 (Fig. 4) on the inner surface of each of the walls 29 provides a wide bearing surface around the upper portion of the hole 30. v r The plastic material from which the cup 6 is constructed will not absorb water since it is a non-wetted plastic. Hence, the cup will not have a tendency to increase in Weight duringoperation of the grading machine. The one piece construction also provides a carrier cup which is rigid yet resiliently yields slightly when subjected to im pact forces. It should also be noted that the cups 6 are arranged on the chains 12 and'14 in such a way that the raised surface 22 on each cup 6 cooperates With the immediately preceding cup to guide the article intended for said preceding cup into the conical pocket 17 thereof;

A plurality of weighing stations 38 (only one of which is shown) are located at longitudinally spaced intervals along the track 10. At each Weighing station 38, a portion of the track 10 is cut away, as at 40, for receiving therein a=depressible member or actuating bar 42 of a scale 44. Each scale 44 has a movable frame structure 46 which is pivotallymounted on knife edges 48 (Fig. 1

'The actuating bar .42 is rigidly secured to the frame 46 on with the strongest spring being associated with the particular weighing station' 38 which is located adjacent, the

14 by a rod 15, saidcup 6 beingcentrally positioned laton the different springs is set so that the scale 44- at each erally betweenthel tracks 8 and 10. The pin 16 {is fitted in oneside'wall of each cup 6 adjacent the longjtpdinai midpoint, of the cup and projects outwardly from the cup to. ride on the upper surface of .the track 10.

' weighingstation 38 will be Eaeh of the impr'oved plastic carrier cups 6(Figs. 2, 3

and of thepr e'slent invention is of one-piece; generally rectangular construction having an inverted conicalpocket 17 integral withcohnecting surfaces 18 especially designed A to guide an article-such as an apple into the conical pocket 17. -Acup mounting portion 19 is integral with'the for-' from the corners 21 of-the connecting surfaces 18 and terminating in the conical pocket"17; The so constructed scalloped connecting surfaces 18 serve to direct articles determinedwe'ight. H 6 During operation of inlet'end of the grading machine and theweakest spring being associated with the weighing station adjacent the discharge end of the machine. The amount of'tension the grading machine an article, suchfas an apple,iis deposited into each carrier. cup 6 and when thechains 12 and 14 are driven in the direction of the arrow A (Figs l 'and-2);, the pin 1610f each'scup is slidably advanced along the track-1t) and'upon the aetuating bar 42 of the first scale '44. If the weight of the article. in one of the cups 6 issuflicient to overcome the resilient effort of the. spring 50 of of the first scale 44 the pin 16 of this, cup will force theactu-atingbarffl downward so that the pin,16 willbeguided under ithe track 10 after the, pin has advanced oifftheendoflhe.bar 42.,' With the pin 16 no longer-supported after trier/ing .under the track 10, the cup 6 will pivot downwardl ago actuated by articles of pre- 3 the rod 15 and-the article cup into'a suitable collecting means (not shown).' Thus, the sizing operation for this particular article is completed. s r c If an article is not of suflicient weight to overcome the resilient urging of the spring 50 at the firstweighing station 38, the actuating bar 42 thereof will not be deflected and the pin 16 will ride over the bar 42 and along the upper surface of the track 10 downstream of the cut-away portion 40. The cup 6 will then be advanced to the next station and the above'described'procedure will continue until the article reaches a station wherein the weight of the article is suflicient to overcome the resilient effort of the spring 50 at that particular station.

The pin 16 will then move the scale bar 42 downwardly thereby directing the pin 16 under the track '10, causing the cup 6 to pivot and the article to fall therefrom. The

operation of the grading machine -is more'comp'letely diss, n

closed in the aforementioned Van Wyk patent. It is apparent from theabove that the pin 16 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) slides along the bar 42 and track and, hence, is subjected to considerable frictional wear. For this reason, the pin 16 is hardened, and is moulded in the plastic material of the carrier cup-6 in such a way that it can be forcibly rotated to a new position after one side has been worn by frictional'engagement with the track 10., It is to be understood, however, that'the pin 16 is held in the cup 6 with suflicient strength to prevent rotation of the pin 16 as it is slidably advanced along the track 10. A circumferential groove 56 (Fig. 5) is formed in the portion of the pin 16 which is embedded in the plastic of the cup 6 and serves to hold the pin 16 from accidental axial movement'out of the cup 6.

Since there is considerable tendency for the pin 16 to only partially deflect the bar 42 and to strike the .downstream edge 58 (Fig. 2) of thecut-away p0rtion'40 of the track 10 rather than make an unobstructed transfer from the bar to a position above or below the-track '10, the downstream edge 58 is directed diagonally relative to into a knife edge 58a; The free end of the pin 16 is ma chined to form a point or tip 60 which cooperates with therein will fall free from the 7 1. In a fruitgrading machine of the type including a track having a cut-awayportion therein, a diagonal knife edge defining the downstream end of said cut-away portion, a carrier cup supported by and movable along said track past said cut-away portion, and a depressible scale member in said cut-away portion movable from a position flush with said track to aposition disposed below said track, the improvement which comprises a pin projecting from said cup over said track and said cut-away portion and slidable on said track and saiddepressible scale member, said pin having a pointedtip arranged to cooperate'with said knife Ledge toiaccurately' guide the pin above said knife edge in cupsupporting position if the weight of the .cup and article supported .thereinis insufiicient to depress said sc'ale member, or below said knife edge in article discharging position if the weight of the cup and articlesupported therein is suflicient to depress said scale member.

2. Ida fruitgrading-machine of the type 'i-ncludng a track having a cut-away portion therein, a diagonally directed knife edge defining the downstream end of said cut-away portion, aseries of plastic carrier cup's supported by and movable along said .track and past said cutaway-portion, and a depressible scale member in said cut away portion movable from a position -flush with said] track to aposition disposed below said, track, the -.improvement which comprises a hardened pin secured to and projecting from each ofsaid cups over saidL-track and said cut-:away portion andslidable on said'track and said depressible scale member, each of said pins having a pointed end arranged to cooperate ;with said diagonal knife edge to accurately guide the pins above said'knife 'edge in cup supporting position if theweight of the cups and articles supported therein is insuflicient todepress 4.0 the direction of movement of the cup 6 and is sharpened the knife edge 58a to more accurately guide the pin 16 3 above or below the track 10 at the different weighing stations 38 with a minimum of interference between the. pin 16 and the knife edge 58a. The angles of the knife edge 58a and of the tip 60 of the pin 16 are such that, the'tip 60 of the pin 16, rather than its wide surface,

makes initial contact with the knife edge 58a, thereby providing a much more sensitive and accurate means of sizing articles according to weight than has heretofore been possible.

saidscale member or'belowsaid knife edge in artic1e dis charging position if the weight of the cups and articles supported therein is sufllcient to depress said scale memher, said pins being arranged to be forcibly rotated relative to their associated cups to selectively position a number of different surfaces ,in sliding engagement with said .trackto compensate for Wear. i

3. In a fruit grading-machine of the typev including a ftrackhaving a cut-away portion therein, a diagonal knife edge defining-the downstream end of said cut-away portion, and a depressible scale member in said cut-away portion movable from a position flush with said track to a position disposed below said track, the improvement which comprises a carrier cup supported by and movable along said track and-past said cut-away portion, said cup beingformed of plastic material adapted to deflect under impact forces of articles placed therein, a pin secured It is apparent from the foregoing description that the improved plastic carrier cup 6 of the present invention is constructed in such 'a wayas to deflect under impact'thereby reducing the possibility of bruising fruit being graded. 1 A The cup is also constructed so as to" guide articlesinto;

7 "its conical supporting pocket. The cup includes a'hardened supporting pin which is moulded in the cup in such a way as to be forcibly rotated when worn on orieside to move an unworn surface into sliding engagement against the cooperating track in order to improve the.

to and projecting from said cup over said trackand said cut-away portion and slidable on saidtrack and said depressible scale member, said pin being. arranged to be vforcibly rotatedin isaid ,cupto selectively position a. number of different surfaces of said ment with said track andsaidscale memben 4. ha fruit gradingmachine including, atrack having a cut-away portion therein, and a depressiblescale mem- -berinsaid cut-away portion movable from aposition flush :with said track to a position disposed below vsaid track, the

improvement which comprises .a. plastic carrier cup suplife span of the carrier cup. The pin is sharpenedFat its outer end and cooperates with .a knife edge on its as termining'the weight of articles being" sorted.

V While one embodiment of the present invention has v been shown and describedfit will be understoodwth'at L 70 as new and desired to "bel protected by'iLetters Patentf isi soctated track to provlde more accurate means of de* 1 ported by and movable along said trackand pastsaid cut- "away portion, a pin having a circumferential groove adjacent one endthereofprojectingintoone wall of said cup .with plastic 'material of said cup substantially filling said force greater'than the frictional force acting on said I ftrack engagingportionwhereby toselectively position dif-;

- groove to prevent axial movementof said pin'out of said cup, and a track engaging portion of-said pin projecting" 'out of said cup'over' said track and:said;cut.-:away portion and'arranged to slide onsaidtrackand on :said scale me :ber tosupport the cupin a horizontal position, said pinz beingarran'ged to be rotated relative to said'cu'p" by a pin in sliding engageferent surfaces of said track engaging portion of the pin into engagement with said track to compensate for wear on said pin.

5. In a fruit grading machine including a track having a cut-away portion therein, a diagonal knife edge defining the downstream end of said cut-away portion, and a depressible scale member in said cut-away portion movable from a position flush with said track to a position disposed below said track, the improvement which comprises a carrier cup supported by and movable along said track and past said cut-away portion, said cup being formed of plastic material adapted to deflect under impact forces of articles placed therein, a pin having a circumferential groove adjacent one end thereof and projecting into one wall of said cup with plastic material of said cup substantially filling said groove to prevent axial movement of said pin out of said cup, and a track engaging portion of said pin projecting out of said cup over said track and said cut-away portion and arranged to slide on said track and on said scale member to support the cup in a horizontal position, said pin being arranged to be rotated relative to said cup by a force greater than the frictional force acting on said track engaging portion whereby said pin may be adjusted to selectively position different surfaces of said track engaging portion of said pin into engagement with said track, said track engaging portion having a pointed tip arranged to cooperate with said diagonal knife edge to accurately guide said pin either over said knife edge to maintain the cup in a horizontal article supporting position or below said knife edge to allow said cup to pivot to an article discharging position depending upon the position of said depressible scale memher.

6. A carrier cup for a fruit grading machine comprising an inverted conical pocket having an opening in the apex thereof, scalloped connecting portions at the upper end of and integral with said pocket and terminating in a generally rectangular periphery defining four corners, depressions in said scalloped connecting portions inclined from said corners towards the axis of said pocket for guiding articles into said pocket, a rectangular skirt extending downwardly from and integral with said scalloped connecting portions and connected to each of'said corners, webs connecting said corners with the outer surface of said conical pocket and with said scalloped connecting portions and terminating adjacent said opening, a ring connected to each of said webs and to the outer surface of said conical pocket, a raised article deflecting surface projecting above and integral with said connecting portion for deflecting articles into said conical pocket, and a pin secured in one side of said skirt and projecting outwardly therefrom, said pin being arranged to be forcibly rotated in said skirt to dispose selective surfaces of said pins downwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,178,203 Fausel Oct. 31, 1939 2,252,909 Van Wyk Aug. 19, 1941' 2,797,807 Butterfield July 2. 1957 

